Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GOVT. IN FIX BY FINANCE SECRETARY WALKOUT

FINANCE SECRETARY WALKOUT EMBARASSES GOVT.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 March: Wednesday’s walkout from his office atBagh Durbar by Finance Secretary Ramshwor Khanal has comeas a serious political embarrassment for the government ofPrime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.He hasn’t assembled a complete government after his electionwith Maoist support 3 February; only MJFN of Upendra Yadav is getting onboard Khanal’s ship demanding not three but four ministerial berths.As Khanal waits to complete government formation, other majorparties have decided to stay in the opposition and an embarrassment has broken out for Khanal’s UML and Maoists in government.Main opposition NC Wednesday demanded a statement on Khanal’s abrupt walkout from his office and threatened to obstruct parliamentaryproceedings until a statement from the government chief.Khanal has been described as a clean bureaucrat while new Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari has been charged forcolluding with business houses to force Khanal’s resignation.Parliament’s public accounts committee Wednesday summonedAdhikari Thursday.The new finance minister Wednesday denied any differences with Khanal and asked Khanal to return to work.Nnnn

FURTHER DETAILS ON CONSTIUTION DRAFTING SUB-COMMITTEE (UPDATE)

Kathmandu, 30 March: Maoist Chairman Prachanda, who heads a sub-committee under a main constitution drafting committee, said Wednesday hecan’t continue as chief of the sub-committee whose tenure was extended Wednesday by another 15 days by main committeechairman Nilambar Acharya.Acharya said the tenure was extended because of the good workof the sub-committee which has to resolve at least 30 moredifferences in articles to be incorporated in a constitution thathas to be promulgated by 28 May.Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shestha’s name was proposed to replace Prachanda in the sub-committee by another Maoistleader Deb Gurung.nnnn